Have you ever felt like that social media sites are consuming your life?!

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in the 1800s, when everything

was simple. You had to wait for days to receive a letter or telegram. You didn't waste

hours and hours staring at a screen and tumbling photos and tweeting to people you

don't know. Don't get me wrong - there are SO many advantage to our technology.

I'm sure Twitter has saved lives by updating people on current events and I know for

certain that it has helped with giving when it comes to Japan! That is such a blessing.

However, if you don't watch it you can get caught up in all of these "blessings." They

start to consume you. You consume it in return. Suddenly where has your life gone?

Sometimes when bloggers disappear from their blogs for a certain length of time

I don't blame them because their is a life to be lived outside of this internet land that

we "live" on. Someone might have a baby, start a new job, get married,
take a break and travel the world, or someone might need a break just because!
I say bravo and I hold nothing against people who need to take time
away from the internet to get things done or take some time for themselves.

When I took time off from the internet for a good three months I learned so much about

myself. I learned that my identity is not in my blog, friends, twitter, followers, Facebook,

and anywhere on the internet in general. My identity for me is in the Lord. He brought

me closer to Him and I couldn't be more grateful. I also learned that I was not setting

boundaries! I often was allowing my blog and other social media outlets to control

me when I should have been controlling them by learning when to say no and knowing

when to call it a night and turn off the computer. It was so refreshing and it made the

world of difference to see things in a new light and learn how to set boundaries.

In the past, so often I let others' opinions of me matter more than my own opinion.
I learned that I am the one who gets to say what I believe in
and no I never have to apologize for that.

I don't want to slip back into the pattern of allowing the internet to take a hold of me.

I know for my freelance work I have to be on the internet and of course I am okay

with that. But when the work is finished, I think it's important to take time for me.

I could write a letter to a friend (I actually just got back in touch
with a friend who wants to write), read a book (The Hunger Games!),
or go for a walk in nature. I can CALL (emphasis on call and not tweet, FB, blah,

blah, blah...) a friend and ask how they are doing.
I can take time for me and my family too.

Ocean Dreamers - you need to take time for you. Don't you dare let the internet consume your life.

Start observing your actions more and keep track of your time.I challenge you and I challenge myself to step away from the internet

more this week and the coming days and cozy up to the one you love or just relax

and enjoy. After all - spring is almost here and I just can't wait to visit CA

where I'll get to do exactly that with my love; cozy up next to him and have some fun!

Here are some questions to get you thinking:

*How many hours a day are you on the internet?

*Are you getting your normal day to day tasks done

or is the internet and social media becoming your god?

*How can you step back and refocus?

One thing I keep noticing over and over is that people apologize

for not blogging and they apologize for not tweeting, etc. DON'T apologize!

You have every right to run your life, take a break, and not put pressure on

and I couldn't agree more. It's easy to get caught up and not let go and feel bad or
guilty for not continuing the communication and community. Community is amazing but
not when you start to feel guilty. It is IMPOSSIBLE to keep up with everyone.
End of story and you all know what I mean...

So I encourage you to let go. Take a break from blogging if you need it.

Say goodbye to Facebook for a week. Don't let every little tweet that pops

on your phone control you. Embrace life outside of this amazing yet dangerous

internet land that we live in.

Just breath, have hope, love yourself, love others, and find peace.
Go read a book in the sun! Fly a kite! Skip to a song!

Tweet with you later! Lol.

XOXO,

-Ocean Dreams

(P.S. I really need to find a new signature. Working on that.)
~ All pictures when clicked on go to their source.

This is SUCH a great post!! I totally agree with you. While social media can definitely be seen as a blessing (when it comes to news, catching up with long-distanes friends/relatives, etc.) it can also be a curse. There have been times where I've woken up from a social media trance only to discover with horror I've been on the computer for five hours straight! That's insane!

I hope everyone takes your advice, especially the bloggers. Blogging is no fun when you burn yourself out with it...

so well said, I think we all get so engaged in social media (I mean it's so fun) that we don't realize that sometimes, we need to just step back! Loved all your thoughts here, though I do remember when you were offline and definitely missed ya!

Fantastic post girl. :) Loved the first picture, and ya know what? I didn't know a few of those sites, or could say "I cancelled my account there, and oh, even there". Proud of me. :) As interesting and widespread the internet is, and all those social media, it is important to juggle it all...with the outside world. People forget that. However, I think it's sad when you know nothing about internet etc at our age. It's what it is. :( And taking breaks from it all brings us closer and doesn't make us lose sight of the world. Because there is life outside that internet bubble too.

Glad I cannot have those twitter/facebook/email updates here. Glad I have no smartphone, although I wish I could send pictures any time I want and not just when I'm at home. ;) However, not being connected for a while is the BEST thing ever. It makes you enjoy every moment you get outside. :)

I agree, if you need a break take it! Blogging, fb, twitter, they all take over. I love it and I'm addicted but sometimes you need to focus on other things that are important too! May need to steal some of these pictures if you don't mind :)

Great thoughts. I often think about what it would be like to live in a much more simpler time. And I love that "I want my life back" pic in all of the internet icons! Hope you are having a great week!!!

This is such a good post. I couldn't agree more. I personally do not do FB, I tweet as I browse the net and if I am home with my boys I don't even touch the computer. I post for business, my family life is devoid of being tweeted about.